Lock House 4, Burgundy Canal, France

We spent one month and eleven days tied up at Vandenesse-en-Auxois.  I loved every minute of it.  We didn't spend all of our time there as we took side trips to Chamonix, France and then Spain.  It was hot but we took our daily walks early and discovered this particular area provided shade for most of our walk.

Our daily walk along the Burgundy Canal from Vandenesse-en-Auxois

Part of our walk was above the tunnel on the Burgundy Canal

Looking at Lock House 4 along the Burgundy Canal

Everyone who goes by this Lock House stops to take pictures.  You could spend hours examining all the different tools collected and art created from old tools beautifully displayed all around the house.

Lock House 4 on the Burgundy Canal

Small selection of the eclectic collection on the walls of Lock House 4

Collection of antique farm equipment by Lock House 4

One of my favorite old farm pieces by Lock 4

View of Chateauneuf en Auxois on our walk.

 This restaurant next to Lock 8 caters to the locals.  Hence the lunch besides being a bargain at 15 euro is always hearty.The guys enjoy a drink before eating.

Social time at the restaurant.

The biggest old Basset Hound we've ever seen.  He gave us the opportunity to speak to and get acquainted with his owners. 

This lunch started with an assortment of salads.

Next course was steak and fries.

The cheese plate goes from table to table.  If one type of cheese gets low, another piece is added.

We can't skip dessert.

 A beautiful day in Vandenesse-en-Auxois with a view of Chateauneuf.  Rabelo is parked on the right.  The hotel barge Wine and Water is forward and to the left side of the canal.

Enjoying the tranquility of our mooring at Vandenesse-en-Auxois.

Rabelo with the village of Vandenesse-en-Auxois behind us.

 We were fortunate enough to be introduced to the British sculptor Paul Day.  He is known for his high-relief sculptures in terra-cotta, resin and bronze.  We have been admiring his work for years at the Abbaye de la Bussiere.  We were invited to his home in Burgundy to meet his lovely wife, his beautiful dogs, and see his studio where he creates his work.  Then we went into his gallery.  His work is incredible!  One day I hope to own one of his bronzes.

Artist Paul Day with one of his dogs.

Tom is standing next to part of a sculpture so you can get an idea of the size.  The completed piece is displayed at the Abbaye de la Bussiere.

Studies by Paul Day

Amazing perspective on this piece!

His busts are interesting.  Some are two sided.

His busts have surprises as you examine them.

Lunch on Rabelo as I cleaned out the refrigerator.

 The history of Chateauneuf dates back to around 1180, when the youngest son of a neighboring noble family inherited the castle fort and made it the seat of a new manor.  The first lord of the manor, Jean de Chateauneuf, renovated and extended the old, small fort in the early 13th century.  The Chateauneuf lords played an important role in building up a community around their castle fort by encouraging and helping new inhabitants to settle there.  Chateauneuf was at its apex in the 16th century.  However, the industrial revolution and the ensuing rural exodus during the second half of the 19th century dealt a blow to the growth of Chateauneuf.  An old buildings at Chateauneuf-en-Auxois.

Notice the date of 1736.